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Watching improv comedy is like sitting in a theater where the actors ask you for what you’d like to see.

The battle of “on the spot fun” continued for three days of September 4, 5, and 6 at Montreal Improv and finally the audience made a decision of which team should be the last standing. This time Easy Action were handed the Smack down prize.

For Montreal Improv this is the first time for the teams to switch up on the spot and compete for three consecutive days. It was an experiment and it was more than successful. The audience loved it, all of the seats were sold out and participation was impressive.

The survival of the funniest is determined by the audience and the strength of their clapping, wooing and whistling. The team who gets the loudest audience support wins. Montreal Improv is one of those places that you must experience for yourself because describing improv is like describing colors; it is different for each and it is the participation and the in-the-moment action that makes it unique.

Over these three days, many teams were welcomed on stage to compete for a chance to remain standing in the battle of the funniest on the last day of the IMPRO-niversary of 2014.

What to expect at MONTREAL IMPROV

Sugar Rush performed sketches such as “A giraffe and an astronaut – a love affair,”  “Grandma’s dirty secrets,” and much more. For smack down shows, two teams came up on stage and the audience is asked for a suggestion – a word or a sentence. Sugar Rush was given two words, a giraffe and an astronomer. To make it even more challenging this team was asked to switch up the characters every time someone said “switch.”

Another obstacle that made it super hard for the actors, yet super exciting for the audience was the use of “ helping hands” in which case a team member stood behind a fellow teammate and served as his (or her) hands. As I think I already mentioned, it is nearly impossible to describe the experience as what goes on in an improv show is unpredictable.

After choosing the theme of samurai, Easy Action went on stage to show a scene spoken in fake Japanese with a dramatic ending. The next skit was about living the duck hunt, a tragic hiking trail and crazens incident.

To summarize

Montreal Improv shows are a truly hilarious experience and the key word here is experience. You must see it for yourself to really understand what improv comedy stands for. Montreal Improv shows happen often.

Predictability is not a word in their vocabulary so there is no guarantee where the improvisation will lead.  What I can guarantee, though, is that it will be funny and you will never get bored.

After all, how can you get bored of something new every week?

MONTREAL IMPROV shows happen every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights at Montreal Improv studio (3697 Boulevard Saint-Laurent). All shows are $8 or $5 with a valid Montreal Improv Student card. MORE INFO

For more of Michael Bakouch’s incredible pictures, check out his website HERE and his blog HERE.